MONO LAKE TUFA-Eastern Sierra Nevada Photo

Photographer’s Note

"In the middle distance there rests upon the desert plain what appears to be a wide sheet of burnished metal, so even and brilliant is its surface. At times the waters reflect the mountains beyond with strange distinctness and impress one as being some way peculiar, but usually their ripples gleam and flash in the sunlight like the waves of ordinary lakes."
--- ISRAEL C. RUSSELL, 1889

Mono Lake's 'Tufa' towers are common limestone, but unique because they were formed underwater by springs rich in calcium contacting carbonates in the Lake. As the City of LA started draining the Lake in 1941, the shoreline Tufa rose from the water.

The largest concentration of Tufa is at the South Tufa Grove off California Highway 120 east of Hwy 395. The Mono Lake Visitor Center in Lee Vining is a fine place to learn about the Lake and surrounding natural interests.

Charo, JudyR has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Charo (31811) 2009-07-05 16:54

Hello Ray,
This wonderful composition of this impressive lake. Herbs illuminated by the sun gives a great contrast. Attractive and hypnotic image. Bravo!
Best wishes,
Charo

BilboCA (734) 2009-07-10 14:38

Hi, Ray,

I love your capture of the magical lighting of this very special and peculiar place. The composition has a nice balance -- in threes -- between the vegetation in the foreground, the tufa in the mid field, and the cloudy sky above. As Charo has pointed out, it is the lighting on the vegetation that makes this photo special.

Regards,
- William

racheltafoya (507) 2009-07-19 14:53

Hi Ray,

Wow what surreal lighting! I wasn't sure what this bright puffball was in the center of the image until I opened it up full screen. That's when I noticed the lighting in the whole scene.

There's a lot to look at here, with the fascinating shapes and textures of the rock formations, the softness of the marsh grasses, the water features, and the sky. I'd be interested to see this scene from a wider angle farther back, and from a closer perspective focusing on the rock formation.

Very nice capture. TFS!

Best,

Rachel

JudyR (897) 2009-10-11 11:10

Beautiful portrait of these unique structures with a great foreground to give comparative value. Thanks, Judy